2024 DE Lawal "LJ" McCray, Mainland HS

[NorthEastCane]

Where he is from is of no importance.

It is if you're expecting results. All the DTs we missed did so because they wanted to stay closer to grandma.

 

[AUcane]

He didn’t get any at Oregon so it wasn’t going to change here.

I never understood why LJ wasn’t a priority. He’s from FTL. If there was ever a blue chipper that would want to be here then it would be him.

It's hard to say based on how recruiting goes but if I had a nickel for everytime I heard the phrase "he's at the top of Miami's board" this recruiting cycle, I'd have a buck. I think I heard that for 3 different dudes during this cycle, including Mccray, iirc.

 

[OptimusCreampie]

If Mario fails, I just can’t fathom the university ever being willing to pony up the $ again.

If he fails, close up shop. We’re done.

This right here. For this sole purpose we should all be rooting for Mario. We will never see this financial support again

 

[Brains]

If he was from Columbus or Northwest, I would agree. But from Mainland? Isn't that a Gator feeder?

Daytona is obviously Gator territory, but it's not further away from Miami than Tallahassee. At this point, the staff's DL situation is a failure.

 

[Zbrod95]

It's hard to say based on how recruiting goes but if I had a nickel for everytime I heard the phrase "he's at the top of Miami's board" this recruiting cycle, I'd have a buck. I think I heard that for 3 different dudes during this cycle, including Mccray, iirc.

I mean if they mean top 6 on the board then yes but when I’m talking priority I’m talking the top 2-3 guys. He’s from FTL. He’s a perfect fit in this D yet we swung and missed on 5 guys before really pursuing him. That’s the mistake.

 

[nvlahos]

Out-recruited by Mike Norvell…I’ve seen it all.

Try winning on the field Mario. It’ll make your life easier, trust me.

Jamari Howard is another massive whiff we don’t talk about enough. Certified speed at DB and someone taller than 6 feet, but it’s ok - our current room is more than fine!

Unbelievable

But but but, Mario is the best recruiter in the world and will keep all the Top talent home

Dude is getting bent over by corny Mike Norvell, and getting crushed by Oh St and Oklahoma

 

[FromDeeeeep]

Unbelievable

But but but, Mario is the best recruiter in the world and will keep all the Top talent home

Dude is getting bent over by corny Mike Norvell, and getting crushed by Oh St and Oklahoma

you guys act like no one else has money or history.

And make no mistake Money and NFL Development are the top reasons kids choose programs. Not which coach called and texted them most often.

 

[nvlahos]

Gaby on 247 says Miami is pulling all stops. I am still a huge believer in Mario but losing McCray will be a flat out "L."

No excuses.

Gaby has said that we’ve pulled out all the stops on the last 5 DTs too

Scott
Stone
Breland
Franklin
Jackson

And we’ve lost them all…Mario the recruiter…

 

[gacaneaddict]

Big time DT's are alway going to be tough for Miami in today college landscape.

We've sucked for nearly 20 years these other schools have not. Most war daddy DT's are not located in South Florida. They are located in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Central or Northern Florida, maybe Midwest or in the North.

All the schools want them, and those schools have as much or more resources, and are usually located closer to recruits.

 

[Dwinstitles]

I mean if they mean top 6 on the board then yes but when I’m talking priority I’m talking the top 2-3 guys. He’s from FTL. He’s a perfect fit in this D yet we swung and missed on 5 guys before really pursuing him. That’s the mistake.

Yup that was a bad strat

 

[Dwinstitles]

Big time DT's are alway going to be tough for Miami in today college landscape.

We've sucked for nearly 20 years these other schools have not. Most war daddy DT's are not located in South Florida. They are located in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Central or Northern Florida, maybe Midwest or in the North.

All the schools want them, and those schools have as much or more resources, and are usually located closer to recruits.

Yea the OOS DTs seem better than the ones in sfla in recent memory. Notice most DLs that are good in the nfl have a bama or uga kid on it

 

[Angry Ibis]

Big time DT's are alway going to be tough for Miami in today college landscape.

We've sucked for nearly 20 years these other schools have not. Most war daddy DT's are not located in South Florida. They are located in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Central or Northern Florida, maybe Midwest or in the North.

All the schools want them, and those schools have as much or more resources, and are usually located closer to recruits.

Mario recruiting DT is getting like Rumph recruiting Heritage…

Can we get Cormani to send Mario’s lucky loafer to the portal?

 

[Cylo]

If he was from Columbus or Northwest, I would agree. But from Mainland? Isn't that a Gator feeder?

Its Gator country. Once you go past Daytona you won't find any Miami Hurricanes merch anywhere in that area. Its Gators, Georgia and FSU as the top 3

 

[CanefaninBuckeyeland]

Every DT to Mario and Big Joe. It is known.

I guess we can include speedy CBs too

 

[skeeter]

Out-recruited by Mike Norvell…I’ve seen it all.

Try winning on the field Mario. It’ll make your life easier, trust me.

Jamari Howard is another massive whiff we don’t talk about enough. Certified speed at DB and someone taller than 6 feet, but it’s ok - our current room is more than fine!

A couple of the more respected local posters on this board have said that this kid is rated too highly…That he is overestimating his wroth looking for a bag, and one even said his senior season has been so so.

 

[ssvir]

Oh I’ve heard that before…

View attachment 261570

Look how sloppy that cat was ... unshaven, ill-fitting rented white shirt, and clip on tie.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

A couple of the more respected local posters on this board have said that this kid is rated too highly…That he is overestimating his wroth looking for a bag, and one even said his senior season has been so so.

He's got one of the more wild splits I've ever seen, honestly.

I think on3 has him a Top 10 player and Rivals has him like 200th. It's crazy.

 

[cway313]

A couple of the more respected local posters on this board have said that this kid is rated too highly…That he is overestimating his wroth looking for a bag, and one even said his senior season has been so so.

Before or after it was established, he wasn't coming?

 

[TOcane]

Yup that was a bad strat

I don't think they ever really let off the gas here. Ateast Mario didn't

 

[NJshoreCane]

Let's assess at the end of the season. No doubt things are trending the wrong way but I remember Richt going 4-0, 0-4, then 5-0 to finish the season.

FSU just lost 3 in a row last season and was sitting at 4-3. Two of those loses came against 7-5 and 8-4 teams and one of those losses the opponent completed 11 passes in the entire game. They then went on to beat teams with the following records:

5-7
5-7
7-5
6-6 G5 team
6-6
6-6 bowl game

4 blowouts, 2 nailbiter 1 score games.

Perception changed for both teams quickly and recruiting picked up.

Hard to say there was any reason for optimism in both examples at the midway point of the season. Let's see how this team finishes.

If they turn it around Mario can recruit better than both HCs in the example.

This was Norvell's 3rd season after winning a total of 8 games his first 2.
He also had (3) previous recruiting classes in the 20's.